Gut Health is the ability to digest food, absorb nutrients and flush out toxins. It is also the balance of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract, which affects the health of your body as a whole.
Gut health is important for a healthy body and a stable mind. The good news is that many of the habits that improve overall health, like getting enough sleep, practicing meditation and keeping a positive mindset, also help you to maintain a healthy gut.
Get the right foods
Eating a wide variety of plant-based foods, primarily from non-processed sources (think fruits, veggies, legumes and beans) is critical for gut health. These foods supply the prebiotics that help feed your beneficial microbes and give you fiber targets, vitamins, minerals and other health-promoting substances to support your gut.
Keep your gut happy with supplements
The most common supplement used to help support healthy gut bacteria is probiotics. These gut-friendly microorganisms, which are found in fermented food, help support your overall health by regulating your intestinal pH and keeping bad bacteria from growing out of control and causing disease.
Eat a diverse diet
A variety of food is essential for a healthy microbiome and can be achieved by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Adding some fermented foods, like yogurt or kefir, can also increase your intake of these beneficial probiotics.
Limit ultra-processed foods, especially ones that undergo industrial processing and have high levels of sugars, salt, and additives.
